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Why US was interested in Cuba
Spanish-American was for Cuba's independence. By the end of the 1800's, Spain had lost all of its New World colonies except Cuba and Puerto Rico. Many Cubans did not wish to be under Spanish rule, so they fled to Florida and other parts of the United States. This was known as the Spanish-American War. -
Gaining control of Alaska
Russia offered to sell Alaska in 1859 because they were in debt from the Crimean War. The U.S did not initially make this purchase because of Civil War debts. Seward was laughed at for his purchase. Many U.S citizens called it "Seward's ice box" or "Seward's Folly." -
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Buying Alaska
The purchase f Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, ridiculed in 1867 as "Seward's Folly," is now viewed as a shrewd business deal. A purely financial analysis of the transaction, however, shows that the price was greater than the net present value of cash flow from Alaska to the federal government -
US enter the war
The United States entered the war because of the Germans' decision to resume the policy of unrestricted warfare, and the so-called "Zimmerman telegram," intercepted by the British, in which Germany floated the idea of an alliance with Mexico. -
Why US was interested in Hawaii
The United States was at war with Spain in Cuba and the Philippine. Hawaii was of importance to the military effort of its location. It was at this time that Congress annexed Hawaii because of the economic and military benefit the islands offered. -
How the Annexation of Hawaii happened
In 1893 the last monarch of Hawaii, was overthrown by party of businessmen, who the imposed a provisional government. Soon after, president Benjamin Harrison submitted a treaty to annex the Hawaiian islands to the U.S. Senate for ratification. -
Annexation of Hawaii
Spurred by the nationalism aroused by the Spanish-American War, the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898 at the urging of president McKinley. Hawaii was made territory in 1900. -
U.S wanting to gaining control of Hawaii
This insecurity also led to the war against Spanish. Hawaii was annexed to the U.S in 1898 when Queen Liliuokalani tried to restore the power of monarchy after the death of King Kalakaua. One reason was because Hawaii played an important role in the interest of US's economy. -
U.S acquire the Philippines
Spanish American War allows the United States to acquire the Philippines and Puerto Rico, and to annex Hawaii. Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, perceives the need for easy access to the Atlantic and the Pacific by the navy. He supports a canal across Panama. -
U.S acquire the Hawaiian Islands
In 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out, and the strategic use of the naval base at Pear Harbor during the war convinced Congress to approve formal annexation. Two years later, Hawaii was organized into a formal U.S territory and in 1959 entered the United States at the 50th state. -
Intervene in Cuba
The U.S also traded goods with Cuba. In 1898, the Unite States assisted in war to protect its citizens and businesses in Cuba. This war was known as the Spanish-American War. The Unite States declared war on Spain after the U.S. warship, the Maine, exploded and sank while visiting Havana, Cuba in February 15, 1898. -
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Spanish-American War
The Unite States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. -
Spanish-America War turning point
Spain announced all claimed to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the Unite States, and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the Unite States fro $20,000,000. The Spanish-American War was an important turning point in the history of both antagonists. -
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Gained from Philippines
The Philippine-American War. After its defeat in the Spanish-American War of 1898, Spain ceded its longstanding colony of the Philippines to the United States in the Treaty of Paris. -
The Second Hay-Pauncefote Treaty is signed
The United States is given extensive rights by Great Britain for building and operating a canal through Central America.President William McKinley is assassinated and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President. -
Senate votes in favor of Panama
United States Senate votes in favor of Panama as the canal site. US support for a $40 million purchase is based on Congressional acceptance for a canal in Panama rather than Nicaragua, and the acquisition of land to serve as a canal zone. Isthmian Canal Act. Congress passes the Spooner bill, authorizing a canal to be built across the Isthmus of Panama. The US purchases a concession to build the Panama Canal from the French for $40 million. -
Hay-Treaty with Columbia
The Hay-Herran Treaty with Colombia would have given the United States the land and the right to build a canal across Panama, but Colombia refuses to ratifies the treaty.The Senate ratified the Hay-Herran Treaty which guarantees the U.S. the right to build a canal at Panama. The treaty promises Colombia $10 million plus $250,000 annually for a zone six miles wide -
U.S acquires control of Panama
United States acquires control of the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million from Panama.United States buys equipment and infrastructure from France for $40 million.Panama adopts the US dollar as its currency. -
Roosevelt replaces Wallace with John F. Stevens
He's one of the most seasoned railroad builders.A decisive, strong leader, recognizes that before work can start on the canal, workers will need adequate housing, water and sewers, safety and recreation.Improved living conditions offers the workers incentive to see the project through to the end.On He orders all work at Culebra Cut stopped.In one year, 1,250 homes, hospitals, administration buildings, and recreation centers are built. 1,200 buildings that had belonged to the French are rebuilt. -
Roosevelt leaves Washington, DC
President Theodore Roosevelt leaves Washington, D.C., for a 17 day trip to Panama and Puerto Rico, becoming the first president to make an official visit outside of the U.S. -
George Washington
George Washington Goethals, US Major General and engineer, is appointed to succeed Stevens as Chief Engineer. He sees the Canal through to completion and becomes the first governor of the Canal Zone.Lt. Col. David DuBose Gaillard is appointed engineer in charge of the Central Divison, responsible for a 31 mile section from the upper locks at Pedro Miguel to the Gatun Dam. -
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Panama Canal opened to traffic
Work on the locks completed. Two steam shovels meet nose to nose in the bottom of Culebra Cut on May 10. President Woodrow Wilson pushes a button in Washington, D.C., to send a signal through the telegraph to blow up the center of the dike, finally mingling Atlantic with Pacific waters. Panama Canal opened to traffic on August 15 when SS Ancon completes the first transit.The Panama Canal, a 52 mile long waterway, is completed at a cost of $352 million, remarkably under budget and under schedule. -
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Ships being transferred with the help of Canals
American armada of 33 ships returning from the war zone transits the canal to the Pacific, including seven destroyers and nine battleships ships, fulfilling the vision of Theodore Roosevelt.More than 5,000 ships a year transit the canal, almost equal to the number of ships transiting the Suez Canal. -
Panama ceases to be US protectorate
Panama ceases to be US protectorate when the US Senate passes the Hull-Alfaro treaty. More than 7,000 ships transit the canal annually. Plebiscite in Panama to renegotiate the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty with the US. -
President Lyndon Johnson is President
When President Lyndon Johnson is President, anti-U.S. rioting breaks out in the Panama Canal Zone, resulting in the deaths of 21 Panamanians and three U.S. soldiers. Violent clashes between Panamanians and American soldiers begin when U.S. students attempt to raise the American flag at the Canal Zone high school. An order banning the flying of any flags in front of Canal Zone schools had been issued on December 30, 1963, because of Panamanian sensitivity to U.S. control of the Zone.